Chapter 129: Please Step into My Trap
“You’re not Givia!” Apos exclaimed, taking two steps back, his eyes narrowed. “It’s you, Abyss!”
“You figured it out so quickly. How disappointing,” the “Givia” said, transforming before Apos’s eyes, becoming a gray-haired young man with a mischievous smile. “Yes, dear Mr. Apos, it’s me. We haven’t officially met, but we’ve crossed paths before, haven’t we? Your Shadowlings were quite troublesome, but ultimately, they accomplished nothing.”
“I’ve been looking for an opportunity to meet you… And you’ve come to me,” Apos said, his composure returning. He casually tossed his warhammer aside, gripping his gardening shears like a weapon. “So that’s how it is. A game of deception, disrupting both our plans. Would you mind telling me where Givia is hiding?”
“I’m afraid I can’t reveal that information. Who knows what you’ll do with it?” Abyss said, shaking his head, smiling. “Oh, by the way, Mr. Apos, I’ve done some research on you. Your full name is Apos Kohler, right? May I address you as Mr. Kohler, following the elven custom? Our names are too similar. It feels strange addressing you by your first name.”
“You have time for such trivial matters?” Apos—now Kohler—said, his voice cold and mocking. “Don’t you realize you’re in a desperate situation?”
“Oh? What kind of desperate situation? Do tell,” Abyss asked, his voice calm and curious, not a hint of fear in his tone.
“Hmph… If things get out of hand, I can’t guarantee the safety of Shodo Town’s residents,” Kohler said, his voice menacing, as he slowly circled Abyss, his shears glinting in the dim light. “Allow me to introduce you to my Master’s gift—the Dream Shear. It can bypass any of your defenses. If I wished, I could cleave this town in two.”
“You’re lying,” Abyss said, smiling faintly. “Your mind might be calm, your soul unwavering, but I know you’re lying. You came here to assassinate Givia. You could have slaughtered your way through the town, but you didn’t. Therefore, I can safely deduce that your ‘Dream Shear’ has a limited range and certain restrictions—perhaps this ‘dream-like’ realm you’ve trapped me in is its effective range? Let’s see how large it is… Hmm, about a thousand square meters?”
Abyss, unfazed, not only analyzed Kohler’s weaknesses but also casually glanced around, confirming the boundaries of the darkened area.
Kohler stared at him, his expression cold. He had received a divine message from the Lord of Nightmares before embarking on this mission. The Lord of Nightmares had warned him that Abyss was fearless, his rationality impervious to threats. And now he was witnessing it firsthand. Most people, even if they didn’t believe his threats, would at least show a flicker of fear. But Abyss was unfazed, his calmness infuriating.
“As I said, any changes within this dream-like realm will affect the real world. Aren’t you worried about the townspeople?”
“Ah, now that you mention it, I am a bit concerned,” Abyss said, nodding seriously.
“Good. If you want to protect Shodo Town’s residents, I suggest you reveal Givia’s location,” Kohler said, his voice menacing. “I know you’re a kind soul. Consider this a chance to perform one last act of kindness before you die.”
“Kindness?” Abyss shook his head. “I’m not a good person. Perhaps ordinary people don’t know this, but you, as a follower of the Lord of Nightmares, must be aware that I’m a necromancer. And we necromancers are quite evil. So I refuse.”
Kohler hadn’t expected to persuade him so easily. It was just a test. In his eyes, Abyss was trapped, with no way out.
Although the Lord of Nightmares couldn’t directly influence this world, his presence through the Dream Shear had pulled Abyss into a dream realm. Unlike the temporary hypnosis he had used before, this dream was inescapable, as long as Kohler remained nearby. The power channeled through the Dream Shear was immense, even capable of bypassing the authority of some local deities. Abyss was trapped.
As for harming the townspeople, Kohler was confident in his ability to do so using the Divine Arts bestowed upon him by the Lord of Nightmares. But that was a last resort. Since the Outer God’s power was incompatible with this world, using it came with a price. He wouldn’t use it unless absolutely necessary. The Dream Shear was enough.
“Aren’t you afraid of the fear this will cause…”
“Enough with the pointless chatter,” Abyss said, his voice suddenly impatient. He chanted a spell, stomped his foot, and a wave of bone spikes erupted from the ground, radiating outwards from him.
Shhhk! Shhhk! Shhhk!
The sharp spikes pierced through everything in their path. Kohler swung the Dream Shear, shattering the approaching spikes, narrowly avoiding being impaled.
Rumble!
Although he was safe, the surrounding environment wasn’t. The building’s supporting walls crumbled, the ceiling collapsing.
Kohler, startled, swung his shears upwards, slicing through the falling debris, creating a gap that saved him from being crushed.
“This will affect the real world,” he said, his voice filled with anger, realizing the extent of the destruction. “You think this will change anything? You’ve only made your situation worse! When the residents of Shodo Town see their headquarters in ruins, they’ll…”
“I’m afraid I forgot to mention something, Mr. Kohler. The moment you attacked me with your hammer, I transported you to another world,” Abyss said, a smile spreading across his face. “Don’t worry, your Divine Realm can still influence the outside world, but it’s not affecting Hai-Teweru anymore. I knew you had infiltrated Shodo Town. I didn’t stop you because I wanted to lure you into a trap. So, please, don’t hold back. Show me your true power. I’m waiting.”
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